RICO VERHOEVEN is planning to appeal his controversial stoppage loss to Oleksandr Usyk.
to challenge boxing’s undefeated pound-for-pound king Usyk in Egypt.
Rico Verhoeven is planning to appeal his controversial stoppage loss to Oleksandr Usyk Credit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Usyk embraces a devastated Verhoeven Credit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Despite not tasting defeat in the kickboxing ranks for over ten years – with just ONE professional boxing bout to his name – the Dutchman was given little chance of surviving the first few rounds – let alone the fight.
But it was who needed a great escape having been beaten and bamboozled for the majority of the ten completed rounds.
In the 11th, Usyk, 39, finally caught up to Verhoeven, 37, with a left hand that dropped the unheralded challenger in the corner.
Verhoeven made it to his feet and even received some valuable seconds to recover after his gumshield fell out.
But when the action resumed, Usyk smelt blood and piled the pressure on with a barrage of shots.
Verhoeven tucked up but failed to fire back – causing British official Mark Lyson to
It was a remarkable decision to make considering it came at 2.59 seconds of the penultimate round with Verhoeven unsteady on his legs but by no means incoherent.
And the outrage grew after replays appeared to show the bell – with action now due to be taken.
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takes on the king of kickboxing Rico Verhoeven and Fabio Wardley will defend his newly won heavyweight crown against fellow Brit .
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May
- Sat 23 – Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven – WBC title – DAZN
- Sat 30 – Dmitry Bivol vs Michael Eifert – DAZN
- Sat 30 – Adam Azim vs Steve Claggett – DAZN
June
- Sat 6 – Fame Fighting v Misfits Boxing – The Sun
- Sat 6 – Dalton Smith vs Alberto Puello – WBC super lightweight title – DAZN
- Sat 6 – Chris Billam-Smith vs Ryan Rozicki – Paramount+
- Sat 13 – Tommy Fury vs Eddie Hall – DAZN
- Sat 13 – Antonio Vargas vs Jesse “Bam” Rodrigues – DAZN
- Sat 20 – Ryan Garner vs Michael Magnesi – DAZN
- Sat 27 – Xander Zayas vs Jaron Ennis – DAZN
July
- Sat 25 – Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga – DAZN
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Devastated Verhoeven told Boxing News : “They stopped the fight after the bell.
“I think we’re just going to go ahead and file an appeal because this makes no sense.
“When the referee intervened, I wasn’t dazed or anything like that. I looked at him thinking: Why are you stopping it?
“We were so close to making it to the end. It’s totally absurd. The referee must be aware of what he’s doing.
Verhoeven started the fight on the front foot Credit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Never had Usyk been hit so often in a fight Credit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
“Of course, mistakes happen, but he needs to admit his error. They should review the footage and declare the fight a no contest or go to the judges’ scorecards.
“And if they went to the cards, at that point I was ahead on points.”
Controversy surrounded the fight – which took place behind a stunning backdrop of the Egyptian Pyramids – way before round 11.
Usyk snubbed patient challengers like Agit Kabayel, 33, and Moses Itauma, 21, to take the crossover clash.
Usyk dropped Verhoeven in round 11 Credit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
And referee Mark Lyson controversially ended the bout Credit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
And the WBC came under fire for officially sanctioning the bout for the world title – while the WBA and IBF chose not to.
But for all the cynics, it was an inspired performance by Verhoeven who set the tone from the very first round with a thudding right hand on Usyk.
The heavily favoured champ – who has reigned as undisputed at cruiserweight and heavyweight – struggled to get to grips with Verhoeven’s awkward style.
He did buckle Verhoeven with a big left uppercut in round four – which should have swung the momentum his way.
But the challenger defied all logic as he outboxed all-time great Usyk with an unorthodox mix of aggression and speed.
Usyk celebrates his controversial win Credit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
And he faced off with Agit Kabayel afterwards Credit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
By the seventh, it was Usyk – a veteran of the 12-round distance – who looked to be tiring and he was almost out on his feet after a massive left hook.
A sense of disbelief filled the purpose-filled arena in the Giza desert when Verhoeven almost took Usyk’s chin off with a monster right.
Heading into the championship rounds and Usyk was on the verge of the biggest shock in boxing since Mike Tyson’s infamous 1990 loss to 42-1 outsider James ‘Buster’ Douglas in Tokyo.
But he turned the tide in the 11th after dropping Verhoeven with a big left hand to floor his otherwise faultless rival.
Verhoeven looked shaken but coherent when the action resumed – able to tuck up and defend from the oncoming onslaught.
Usyk did his part by not letting up but Lyson will come under questioning for his decision to call the action while seemingly missing the bell.
Kabayel did get in the ring afterwards to face-off with Usyk.
But Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh – paying to stage the extravagant event behind the iconic Egyptian – called for a rematch with Verhoeven in the Netherlands.
had Verhoeven two points up with one judge and level with the other two.
It was Usyk who pulled himself out of the fire – but ref Lyson will take the heat for his crazy call.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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